Government agencies and law enforcement across the United States constantly fight illegal gambling. The combined efforts of gambling regulators and police help shut down illegal gambling establishments, both large and small, and bring culprits to justice.
It is not uncommon for illegal gambling venues to serve as a hot spot for other unlawful activities, including robberies, drug distribution and prostitution. This occurrence reaffirms the need for robust efforts against the black market.
In the fight against illegal gambling, police in Alabama were surprised to uncover illegal gambling devices that had been previously seized in an operation earlier this month. Last week, Steve Marshall, the Alabama Attorney General, confirmed the execution of several search warrants and the serving of temporary restraining orders against illegal gambling businesses in Selma.
The raids and subsequent temporary restraining orders came as a part of a criminal investigation. As a result of the swift actions of law enforcement, five venues recognized as illegal gambling businesses were shut down.
The Attorney General praised the police efforts and explained that businesses offering illegal gambling completely disregard state laws. “The law is clear; gambling is illegal in Alabama and the Attorney General’s Office will continue to enforce the laws of this state,” added Marshall.
Previously Seized Illegal Gambling Machines Found
To the surprise of law enforcement on Monday, machines that were seized last week were found in a business in Lipscomb, as announced by WBRC. The media outlet confirmed that police officers found the machines at Jay’s Charity Bingo.
The authorities didn’t need a lot of time to identify that the devices found at the venue just off Avenue K were the same ones that were seized previously. This is because the electronic bingo machines still had evidence stickers attached to them.
The machines were stolen from Selma Charity Bingo which was one of the establishments that was shut down last week. While the building was sealed, law enforcement identified and detained five people who moved devices out of the building. Each individual was arrested and hit with a number of felony charges.
To further sweeten the pot, police found additional illegal gambling machines at Jay’s Charity Bingo in Lipscomb. Overall, more than 100 machines, recognized as illegal were uncovered by law enforcement.
